Rosie is the founder of Nifty, a vintage
and secondhand consignment store
in the heart of Ōtautahi
What sparked your love of vintage?
I've always been a secondhand shopper. My mum would take us to mighty SaveMart if we had a mufti day at school to thrift our outfits. I was also using Trade Me when I was 12, so I’ve always been a secondhand shopper.
I can pinpoint a memory of when my real love for it started. I was 15 in Wellington and I remember stepping foot into a Recycle Boutique for the first time. We didn’t really have a huge amount of curated secondhand stores in Christchurch... I don’t even remember if we had any. So going into Recycle Boutique was a pivotal moment for me; I was just in awe. I really love a store that has a mix of vintage and cool designer brands.
What's your best ever vintage find?
I recently scored a 2004 Louis Vuitton x Murakami handbag. I love that collab. It’s very Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie Simple Life era. I’ve been seeing these bags since I was obsessed with that show so I’m really happy that I’ve found one, I’m so obsessed with it.
Is there an item you're currently looking for?
I’m always on the search for 501 Levi’s in that perfect stonewash blue. I have a few pairs but you just thrash them, and I always need a new pair. Vintage Levi’s are such a unique fit that if you find a pair that fits, you’ve got to buy them.
What era do you find yourself drawn to?
It’s got to be the 90s. Whether it's because I was born in the 90s, I guess there’s an aspect of nostalgia that you’re always going to feel for the era that you grew up in. But I love the level of manufacturing from the 90s, It’s really beautiful and hardy. I also love the silhouettes; I think they did basics very well. Vintage Gap, vintage J.Crew. I suppose I really love the vintage made in the USA era of manufacturing. Also taking it back to Levi’s, I think 90s is when Levi’s were making their best 501s.
If you could only source vintage from one place, where would that be?
I’m gonna be cheeky and give two answers here. One obviously has to be my store (Nifty). Because we’re a consignment store, we just have the best consignors. The clothing that they bring in - every day - I’m in awe of it. It’s so fabulous. Taking it back to the first time I really fell in love with vintage was in a consignment store, so that’s probably got something to do with why I started one.
I love that you can get such a great mix of vintage and new, and I think that is a really great way to encourage people to shop secondhand, by mixing new and vintage or pre-loved.
Then it would have to be the Rose Bowl flea market in Pasadena. It’s just an amazing place to search. It’s not just vintage clothing either, the vintage furniture and art is crazy it’s almost painful because you cant take the furniture home with you.
What's a wardrobe piece you'll have forever?
The vintage Levi’s. For me, denim, particularly vintage denim, is basically a neutral. It’s a textured basic, and it goes with everything. I think everyone should have a piece of vintage denim in their wardrobe, whether it's a shirt or a pair of jeans. The more you wear them over time, the better they look.
What's something you've read, watched, or seen recently that's inspired you?
I recently finished Lena Dunham’s autobiography, which I loved. I also rewatched Girls to tie in with that. IIt's the millennial show. The era of fashion, peak hipster culture in Brooklyn it’s incredible. I also loved I Love LA - the wardrobe, the cast, and I love how LA is it’s own character in the show. Now that it's coming into summer, i’m going to start a rewatch of the OC, I watch it every summer. I would say The OC inspires most of my choices when getting dressed.